-AU story, based around Sara's video to Grissom in the episode 'Leave Out All The Rest'.

I'm a little nervous to post this story, as I have been away from this site for a while, and not too sure about this story. However, the majority of this story is already written, (although I am open to new ideas) and will be updated weekly if people are interested enough in reading the rest of the story after the first chapter.

The first chapter is quite short, but I felt that if I combined chapter one and two, it would be too long...

Thanks for reading and any errors please let me know.

Disclaimer; I don't own CSI and I am not making any profit from this.

'I thought we could survive anything'

Chapter One

Sara,

You know I have never been one for communicating however I feel it is necessary to reply to your video.

For me, our relationship came to an end when you made the choice to leave Vegas.

However, it has obviously been the correct decision as we both are happy and moving on.

Following the evidence, it would show that perhaps our relationship was not as strong as it seemed, and we can only hope our future relationships are more successful.

It would be best if we say our goodbyes here.

Grissom

"Do you like torturing yourself?"

A voice sprung from behind her, awakening her from the painful memories that the email arose. She quickly slammed her laptop shut before answering,

"Vicki, I'm not torturing myself..." Sara stood up and they began to walk into the kitchen together. "It…it just reassures me that I'm doing the right thing, and shouldn't feel guilty about it." Sara explained.

Handing Sara a glass of milk, they both sat down at a small table in the centre of the room.

"I shouldn't….right?" Sara whispered before taking a gulp of her drink.

Vicki reached across the table to hold Sara's free hand; grasping Sara's attention, "One of these days you'll leave your email open and I'll delete it." Giving her hand a tight squeeze, Vicki spoke softly, "You need to move on."

Wide eyed, Sara shook her head in disbelief while adamantly replying, "You cannot be serious! No way. Been there, done that."

Butting into Sara's quickly forming rant, Vicki reassured, "And he obviously wasn't 'Mr Right' for you. That person will still be out there. You deserve it."

Sara shook her head and replied in a poignant tone, "You couldn't be more wrong. I fell for him the moment I met him, and believe it or not, I know he was 'it' for me." She took a long, reminiscing silence before speaking tenderly, "He had his faults, and we had our problems, but he was the only man I ever loved."

"And who's to say you won't find someone like that again?"

Sara's silence was enough of an answer for Vicki. Vicki had known Sara for more than ten years, their friendship forming as they started their career together as lab techs for San Francisco Police Department. Although Vicki specialised in DNA and Sara in trace, they shared the same lab. Furthermore, being the same age and both workaholics, they instantly clicked. Vicki had also followed Sara's lead by venturing out into field work, enjoying the different surroundings and the puzzle. When Sara had moved to Las Vegas, she herself had stayed in San Francisco, working the dayshift but kept in contact through vacations, phone calls and emails.

Realising the conversation has reached its limit; Vicki swiftly changed the subject; "So what time you heading to work at?"

"Can't wait to get rid of me huh?" Sara joked "but don't worry I'm heading out in ten. Oh, before I forget, are you working this Friday or am I?" After finishing her volunteering abroad, Sara was back working for SFPD lab although part-time, job-sharing full time hours with Vicki.

"I am this week but if you're volunteering…" Vicki spoke optimistically before Sara interrupted with a smile on her face "No no, I've got plans for this Friday."

At this news, Vicki's eyebrows shot up and her blues eyes gleamed "oh really?"

Before Sara could reply a boy with short blond hair and blue eyes came running into the kitchen shouting, "Mom! I can't find my homework anywhere! I must have left it at Dad's house!"

"Jake! Inside voice! If you've woke up Ems…" Vicki spoke sternly to her son. "And you didn't leave your homework at your fathers. Do you not remember finishing it in front of the TV when you came home last night with Aunt Sara?"

Understanding washed over the child's face and his cheeks turned rosy. "Sorry" He turned and looked at Sara. "Are you picking me up from school today or mom?"

"I think we're going to have to print off our schedule and stick it to your forehead" Sara joked and Vicki then repeated for what felt like the one hundredth time,

"Monday and Tuesdays are my days off so I'll collect you. I work Wednesday and Thursday which is when Sara picks you up because she is off. On Friday your dad picks you up and you come back home to me on Sunday."

Suddenly, the sounds of tumbling and banging came from the staircase creating a deafening silence in the kitchen. As the sounds became louder and the object tumbling became nearer, Sara and Vicki both screamed "Emma" before rushing to the staircase. Sara could feel her heart pounding in her chest as worst case scenarios were replaying in her mind.

As they reached the bottom of the steep staircase they were greeted with children's building blocks scattered across the floor, being the obvious origin of the frightening noise. Sara, Vicki and Jake looked up towards to the top of the steps and witnessed a small, curly brown haired infant wearing just a diaper, try to crawl down the stairs with her hands clawing at the steps in front. The harsh landing of the blocks had not withered the determination in this child to get downstairs.

"Emma!" Sara hissed while shooting up the stairs before another tumble occurred featuring a more precious cargo.

The child turned around as she was scooped up into Sara's arms, giving a gummy grin.

"Mama!" Emma squealed with laughter while Sara gave a sigh of relief, and began to walk down the stairs, hugging her child tightly to her chest.